https://odb.org/2024/06/19/the-god-who-announces-freedom
The story of God calling Moses in Exodus 3 at the burning bush is probably familiar to most of us as it is a passage often preached from the pulpit. I think I have heard a message on that at least a few times in my life. There are familiar themes on the holiness of God, of the miracle of a burning bush that doesn’t consume the bush, of the omnipresence of God being able to see Moses going to the burning despite Him being at the bush.
However, the most significant message is nevertheless the freedom from slavery of the Israelites who were in Egypt. In just roughly 20 generations in 430 years (assuming one generation spans 20 years), the family of 70 of Jacob in Genesis 46 that came to settle with Joseph in Egypt to escape the great famine had grown to 600,000 abled-bodied men (as per the census in Exodus 12). In other words, there would have been nearly 2 million Israelites then, if we were to include the women and children.
The emancipation of the Israelites from the oppression of the Egyptians (then the most powerful nation in the known world) is a picture of God’s liberation of His people from the clutches and shackling of sin through Christ Jesus. Like Moses and Aaron confronting Pharoah and freeing the Israelites, Jesus faced the devil and defeated sin and its sting of death. We now have freedom from sin and eternal life because of Jesus Christ.
But as free people who are no longer living in spiritual bondage, are we free to do as we wish? Surely not! This is because our freedom as children of God is being freed from the chains of sin that prevent us from knowing God. With the scales lifted from our spiritual eyes, we can now experience God in our lives and begin to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The spiritual realm, including its power and blessings, is now opened to us. As the spiritual Israel, we are now part of the Abrahamic Covenant and may live in the centre of His glory and will, enjoying His benevolence and protection. The LORD will bless whosoever who blesses us and curse whosoever who curses us. The law is now written in our hearts.
My dear brothers and sisters, so long as we still have breadth, let us all enjoy this freedom in Christ to live for Him, to fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives. That we will conquer and cultivate His promised land for us that indeed our promised land will be flowing with milk and honey to the glory of our most high God Almighty, the Great I Am, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Ronnie's Thoughts 